My Trastamara’s Girls - Part FiveThe youngest daughters of Juanna of Castile Mary of Hunga

My Trastamara’s Girls - Part Five

The youngest daughters of Juanna of Castile

Mary of Hungary

She was queen consort of Hungary and Bohemia as the wife of King Louis II, and was later Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands.

Mary married King Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia in 1515. Their marriage was happy but short and childless. Upon her husband’s death following the Battle of Mohács in 1526, Mary governed Hungary as regent in the name of the new king, her brother, Ferdinand I.

In 1531, Mary was asked by her eldest brother, Emperor Charles V, to assume the governance of the Netherlands and guardianship over their nieces, Dorothea and Christina of Denmark, upon the death of their aunt Margaret. As governor of the Netherlands, Mary faced riots and a difficult relationship with the Emperor. Throughout her tenure she continuously attempted to ensure peace between the Emperor and the King of France. Although she never enjoyed governing and asked for permission to resign several times, the Queen succeeded in creating a unity between the provinces, as well as in securing for them a measure of independence from both France and the Holy Roman Empire. After her final resignation, the frail Queen moved to Castile, where she died.

c. 1519

Catherine of Portugal

She was the wife of King John III of Portugal. She was also the Regent of Portugal during the minority of her grandson King Sebastian of Portugal from 1557 until 1562. 

Her story was really sad. Catherine was the posthumous daughter of Philip of Hapsburg by Juanna of Castile She was born in Torquemada and remained with her disturbed mother until the arrival in Spain from Flanders of her eldest siblings, Eleanor of Austria and the future Emperor Charles V.

All of her five older siblings, except Ferdinand, were born in the Low Countries and had been put into the care of their aunt Margaret of Austria, but Juanna kept hold of her young daughter Catherine. Catherine actually stayed with her mother in her prison cell during her grandfather’s time as regent. Catherine and two ladies-in-waiting stayed with Joanna.

Catherine had nothing to do all day, except to look out of the window. Later she and her mother were freed from confinement.

Catherine married her first cousin, King John III of Portugal. They had nine children, but only two survived early childhood. Her daughter, Maria Manuela of Portugal died 4 days after given birth to her only son, Don Carlos, prince of Asturias.

After the death of her husband in 1557, Catherine was challenged by her daughter-in-law and niece, Joan of Austria, over the role of regent for her grandchild, the infant King Sebastian. Mediation by Charles V resolved the issue in favour of his sister Catherine over his daughter Joan, who was needed in Spain in the absence of Philip II.

She then served as the regent of Portugal from 1557 until 1562. In 1562, she turned over the regency to Henry of Portugal.

She was named in honor of her maternal aunt, Catherine of Aragon, first wife of King Henry VIII of England.

c. 1552

by mara sop